Teens, Tech, and Belonging: What the Data Says About Youth Well-Being

Teenagers today are navigating something genuinely new, a world where the pressure to belong, the weight of social expectations, and the tools of social media and AI are all arriving at once, during the most identity-defining years of their lives. In this episode, two researchers and innovators share what the data actually shows about youth well-being, and what's being done to help.Dr. Kristine Gloria, founder of YoungFutures, describes how her organization is working to fund, connect, and amplify the community programs already helping young people build the resilience, life skills, and social connections they need, and why the narrative about technology and teens needs to make more room for solutions, not just problems.Dr. Sema Sgaier, founder of Surgo Health, shares how her team is building a behavioral intelligence layer for healthcare, and what their youth mental health research is revealing about how different groups of teens are using AI. The findings challenge the dominant narrative: AI use among youth is more a reflection of their lives and needs than a cause for alarm, and the role of parents and trusted adults turns out to be central to nearly everything.Episode Resources:Clinton Global InitiativeConnect with Dr. Kristine Gloria:Dr. Kristine Gloria LinkedInYoung Futures WebsiteYoung Futures LinkedInYoung Futures InstagramConnect with Dr. Sema Sgaier:Dr. Sema Sgaier LinkedInSurgo Health WebsiteSurgo Health LinkedInConnect with us:KidsX WebsiteKidsX LinkedInChildren's Hospital L.A. WebsiteChildren's Hospital L.A. InstagramChildren's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn